National Republican., 1887-08-16
CRUISERS AND eUNBoArs.
Secretary Whitney Awards the Con-
trncta for New Vessels.


The contracts for the FIVE new naval yes
sells were yesterday awarded by the Secre-
tary OF the Navy. But few persons were
present, as the result OF the bids was almost
a foregone conclusion. Cruiser No. ], the
Newark, is awarded to Cramp S Sons for
Sl,2is,000 according to the departments
plans for machinery; cruiser No. 2to Cramp
q Sons contractors plans) for $l,350,0O0;
cruiser No 3 to the Union Iron Works of
San Francisco departments plans for hull
ana machinery, for Sl,42s,0OO, and gun
CO., Of New York tRoach's assignees), at
$3.50, eco each.
The following interesting correspondence
on the subject took place between Secretary
Whitney and the President:
NAVY DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, Aug 49,
1sSI-To THE PRFsIBENT-Sir' Herewith sub
NIT the papers showing the result of the recent
bidding Tor the construction of cruisers Nos
al 8. question arises under these bids re-
quiring your decision. Congress- In appropri.
stipg for these ships, directed that one o.
them should be bnilt ION or near the coast OF
the Pacific ocean or the waters connected
herewith" ltwas further provided however
as follows: "lf 4 shall appear to the satisiac-
ton Of the President of the United States from
the biddings for said contract, when the same
ore opened and examined by him, that said
vessel cannot be constructed At fair cost on
| or near the Pacific ocean, he shall authorize
| the construction OF said vessel elsewhere In
the United StateS.'
Three forms OF bidding for the ships recently
| advertised were permitted aud invited by the
department. ofwhich an explanation Is neces.
| safy. In ali contracts of this character made
| in the last two years the department has re-
| Quired definite results TO be guaranteed by tho
| contractor; results fixed at about the highest
| point reached by the best ship builders in the
| world.
In the matter OF machinery the point was
fixed at about ten-horse power to each ton Of
machinery. This marked wide departure
| from the previous practice oil the dcpartmen'-
nearly doubling the requirements. The GuIt
| antee required from the contractor has been
in such case coupled with severe penalties for
foi ure and adequate premiums tor success.
| i will be seen that en- essential feature OF
| this method of contracting is that the Goa
| tractor should he permitted 10 have something
| to ray with reference to the plans. The amount
of his compensation being dependent upln
the results attained, and the merit of the ship
| dtJcndipg upon the merit of the plans. thV
contractor is peCuniarily interested In improv.
| ing the plans. He is made partner with the
| government to raise the character OF the shib
| The department. therefore, opens the door
to private tntorprise In this matter by allow
ing more than one form of bidding. 1t sub
| bidding upOn them but IL permits any ship.
builder who thinks they can be improved to
suggest alternative plans for accomplishing
| the same notwithstanding himself responsible
pCcuniarily for their success.
| The system necessarily avoids the ruts com
mon with government work, for as the att
constantly holding out premiums for i'm
proved results is the first to secure them.
| The conditions of the recent letting were
much more exccting than any previously i'm
| posed.
Congress, in authorizing the construction o
cruisers No. and 8, prescribed that the con
nineteen knots per hour, with q penalty O
$4,000 for each quarter knot of failure in speed
and an equal premium for each quarter knot
IL speed bv Tbs Tn n
constituted a demand for cruisers the equal
and probably the superior, of any heretofore
The contracts were. however bid for by twt
responsible concerns. Bids were permitted tC
be made In three ways
J. The departments plan of hull and ma
. The bidders plan of hull and machinery
3. The departments plan of hull aud tn
bidders plan of machinery.
| The bids were as follows:
Name of bidder. Cruiser. Glass of bid. Price
Union Iron Works. or5. sl,t2s00
Cremp 4 Sons, and 5. l,iloNg
Cramp & Sons. ! and :. 2 l,3l50y
Cranp & Sons. 4 and s. I,iOj,OO
] have compared, with the aid of the chief
OF the bureaus of construction and steam en-
| gineering, the various plans, and. In accord
ance with their advice, I respectfully recon-
mend that one ship be built upon the depart
| ments plans, and that for the other the bid o
with this latter bid original designs are sub
| mitted.
These plans differ somewhat from those o
| the department. The proposed ship Is large
in tonnage, with thicker protective dec.
lighter in construction in parts, and stronge
in others. cheaper mode OF construction 1
adopted in some respects. but none but az
| proved practices are employed. The hull do
| 'icned by the bureau is more expensive I
build; but which Is tue better one on The whoi
diet, ] think there is every advantage il
building both, and SO recommend.
As 10 the comparison of the bids submltc
for the bureaus ship the bid of Cranp & Son
ssls.OO0 lower than that of the Union Iro
| Works, San Francisco.
ltu are 10 say whether from the bidding
| appears that the bid OF the Union Iron Work
Is Il fair price for the work.
| II was clearly not intended that the lowe:
bidder should necessarily be entitled to tn
contract, fer this rule was easy to state, and ha
| been the law in previous cases On the COZ
'rary, Congress apparently had In view th
difference In the conditions of the diiierer
parts OF the country for thiswork, and intende
to permit the President TO consider these ditIe
nces In determining what should be deeme
far price. This difference of $4,000 In III
bids VIII not cover the difference in freigl
against California upon materials necessary {
be present time to be purchased IN the cas-
Very respectfully W. c. WHITNEY,
, Secretary of the Navy.
J EXECUTIVE MANSION. WASHINGTON, Aug. i
lsS7-undcr the provisions Of the act OF Cor
| gress authorizing the construction of the shil
herein referred to, which act requires that on
of fsaid ships should be built on the coast of tt
| Pacific ocean or the waters connected ther
: with, unless the same cannot be there col
/ structed at fair cost; and the bid of the UniO
Iron Works of San Francisco being With
$4,000 of the lowest bid for the ship to be cor
, strpctcd according TO the plans OF the Nav
Department, which sum of $4,000 does NJ
more than cover the difference against II
Pacific coast of the cost Of necessary transpo
tation OF materials and the bid by said cou
a | pany not appearing TO be IN excess of the ia
: cost of said ship, l do hereby. pursuant to sal
statute. and In accordance with the mantle
} | iutention OF Congress in the premises, autho
| ize and direct that the contact for the Co
stiuction Of the ship within named, to be bui
y according to the plans Of the Navy DepaI
0 ment, be given TO the said Union Iron Worl
of san Francisco. GROVER CLEVELAND.